(CNN) – Sen. Ted Cruz, whether he likes it or not, is likely still a Canadian citizen.

While the Texas Republican - who legal experts suggested holds a dual U.S.-Canada citizenship - wrote in a statement Monday he was forsaking any Canadian citizenship derived from having been born in the country, the legal steps are more complex than simply a declaration of renunciation.
The website of Canada's citizenship and immigration agency lists several criteria for renouncing citizenship, all of which Cruz appears to meet. He'll need to first prove he's a Canadian citizen at all – a fact legal experts told the Dallas Morning News on Sunday was likely, since Cruz was born in Canada.

The senator will next need to prove he's a citizen of another country – in Cruz's case, the United States, where his mother was born.

He can't live in Canada (Cruz and his family live in Houston) and must be over 18. It's unlikely Canadian officials will find Cruz to be a threat to the nation's security, and Cruz shouldn't have trouble proving he understands the significance of renouncing his Canadian citizenship.

After those boxes are checked, Cruz will need to fill out a four-page application and pay 100 Canadian dollars to officially end his dual citizenship with America's neighbor to the north.

The outspoken lawmaker – who many consider a potential candidate for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination – said Monday he wanted to end any Canadian citizenship he may hold.

"Nothing against Canada, but I'm an American by birth, and as a U.S. Senator, I believe I should be only an American," he wrote, adding he wasn't even aware he was a dual citizen until the subject was brought up over the weekend.

soundoff(32 Responses)

Len

Were is Donald Trump?????

August 20, 2013 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |

Gurgyl

Go back to Canada.

August 20, 2013 05:21 pm at 5:21 pm |

Tom

If Canadians have any sense they'll seize the opportunity, expedite the paperwork, and remove any possibility this nut case will ever be able to change his mind and decide he wants to be Canadian. Canada has an opportunity to rid itself of an, albeit technical, lunatic. Don't pass up this chance.

August 20, 2013 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |

O'drama ya Mama

"Nothing against Canada, but I'm an American by birth, and as a U.S. Senator, I believe I should be only an American," he wrote, adding he wasn't even aware he was a dual citizen until the subject was brought up over the weekend.

Already denying he was born in Canada....Please birthers, don't weaken your already weak argument and become a giant hypocrisy when this guy tries to run for President.

August 20, 2013 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

don in albuquerque

Okay, now we get it. It would have been okie dokey to be from Kenya as long as you were a Tea Party member. I guess what was not okay was to be black.

August 20, 2013 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

Bill

"adding he wasn't even aware he was a dual citizen until the subject was brought up over the weekend."

This from the man who wants to be President.

August 20, 2013 05:41 pm at 5:41 pm |

simplyput

You mean his *alleged* Canadian citizenship? Don't blow this guy off, dims, Alan Dershowitz says he is *off the charts brilliant.* I'd never vote for him, but he has the debate down. I wouldn't underestimate his future.

August 20, 2013 05:45 pm at 5:45 pm |

Marie MD

Let's see. We love to vacation in the Bahamas so starting right now I want to rewrite my personal history and throw a temper tantrum a la crazy cross teatroll and say I was born in the Bahamas.
That being said, put him in one of those keystone pipes and blow him back to Canada.
Where are the birthers? Nothing from you trolls?

Rafael Edward Cruz wants to impeach our President why?
I take it thathis american side is his middle name and he still goes by Ted?
He can't run as a Hispanic because he wants to keep people lie himself and his crazy daddy out f the US.
And he can't rub period because he is Canadian.
Loser!

August 20, 2013 06:56 pm at 6:56 pm |

Bill

@simplyput

If you think this clown will ever be president, then please tell me what you are smoking. It must be good.

August 20, 2013 06:58 pm at 6:58 pm |

Pander Bear

He's already renounced any ties to sanity so the Canadian thing is really no big deal.

August 20, 2013 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |

rs

So, now the bloom is off the whole "birthed" thing because one of their own isn't just an American either.... well that's good news I suspect. Meanwhile, what to do with Canada? Giving us Cruz is certainly an unfriendly act... I thought they were our friends! 🙂

August 20, 2013 07:30 pm at 7:30 pm |

RevCo

Being a Canadian, I'm abit insulted by this shumck aka Texas Senator. As I have nothing against our brothers and sisters of the US, but this senator needs to get his act together. Sounds like he's aborting any trace of being "technically" born in Canada, Alberta. PS, we don't want him back so please keep him lol

August 20, 2013 07:38 pm at 7:38 pm |

the hippies were right

After all the garbage Obama went thru with the birther issue. Cruz is either a liar or plain stupid to not know of his dual citizenship until "someone brought it up last weekend". Typical son of a preacher-man!

August 20, 2013 07:43 pm at 7:43 pm |

Henry

I have a idea. How about we pay Canada to take Cruz back. He's a lousy senator!!!

August 20, 2013 07:53 pm at 7:53 pm |

bbech

"Nothing against Canada, but I'm an American by birth, and as a U.S. Senator, I believe I should be only an American,"

Wouldn't he be a Canadian by birth if he was born in Canada?

August 20, 2013 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

A Kickin' Donkey

Barack Obama's mother was American his father Kenyian. Barack was born in Hawaii, one of the 50 states. That made him a "natural born American citizen

Ted Cruz's mother was American, his father from communist Cuba. Ted was born in Canada, not one of the 50 states. That made him a Canadian citizen {which Cruz accepted and DID NOT refute until yesterday }, a Cuban citizen {per Cuba's constitution} and as the child of an American, who predominately lived in America but was borne outside of the country, Cruz had American citizenship.

To any intellectually honest person, Barack Obama's citizenship is SUPERIOR to Ted Cruz'. Yet Texan Cruz along with Loiue Gohmer has stoked the birthier nonsense against Mr. Obama. I say if Cruz is eligible to be President then so should Jennifer Granholm; the former Governor of Michigan.

The problem with these Tea Party racist idiots, like Donald Trump is that their "purity rules" are pure hipocracy. Oh, and by the way Mr. Cruz, where is the LONG FORM of your birth certificate? The thing you released looks like it was purchased at a novelty store.

Where are the so-called journalists that repeated gave oxygen to the birther questions about Obama? If they have any consistency, they will hound Cruz about this for another TWO YEARS.

August 20, 2013 08:28 pm at 8:28 pm |

Winston Smith

What a creep. There are scarier aspects though. Think of the ones that pulled the lever for him in the first place.

August 20, 2013 09:12 pm at 9:12 pm |

Robert

As a U.S.-Canada dual citizen myself, I will pay the $100 to ensure this man can no longer call himself Canadian.

August 20, 2013 09:17 pm at 9:17 pm |

GI Joe

Didn't know he was Canadian? With a Canadian Birth Certificate?

Not a registered birth at American Embassy, so not a dual citizen.

HE'S AN ILLEGAL ALIEN. Look it up

August 20, 2013 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |

Just a thought

Tea Folks ...here's your great chance to "take back your country"....forget that fact he's a Canadian, he's a little brown around the edges...but every minority will be happy to vote for him and join your hatefest Right now....The Savior of the GOP/Tea party has finally arrived....LOL

August 20, 2013 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

nintex

Nice timing, Ted.

August 20, 2013 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

S. B. Stein

Some people we think are American are actually Canadian. So, Cruz is another one of those.